Watercraft with scoop



' March 25, 1969 F. R. CADDICK WATERCRAFT WITH SCOOP Sheet Filed April 25, 1967 INVENTOR:

FRANCIS RICHARD CAZDIPIQK March 25, 1969 c 3,434,444

WATERCRAFT WITH SCOOP Filed April 25, 1967 Sheet 3 of 4 l \ZRW I j I ,-2c 22 I y z I. y X I /"z I A j" 5 3 3 FIGZ.

INVENTOR:

FRANCIS RICHARD CAnmcIv BY film, W &w #4 Y March 1969 F. R. CADDICK WATERCRAFT WITH SCOOP Sheet Filed April 25, 1967 INVENTOR: FRANCIS RICHARD cAumcx March 25, 1969 F. R. CADDICK 3,434,444

WATERCRAFT WITH SCOOP Filed April 25, 1967 Sheet 4 of 4 mvsuron; FRANCIS RICHARD CADDIcK US. Cl. 11457 16 Claims ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE A watercraft having a generally rectangular shape and a scoop situated beyond the bow for lifting flotsam or other debris from the surface of navigable waters. Supporting the scoop for movement between raised and lowered positions is a boom structure extending over the top surface of the hull and pivoted rearwardly of the bow to a support on the hull. In the stern, a pair of stabilizing fins project rearwardly from the bottom surface of the craft in underlying and spaced relationship from an upper stern portion of the craft. Extending in horizontal planes, the fins each have a generally righttriangular shape including first side portions which merge with the opposite sides of the craft respectively and second side portions extending normal to the former transversely of the craft. The fins are spaced inwardly towards the bow from the rearmost surface of the upper stern portion. Between the fins and the upper stern portion, is an intermediate stern portion including two surfaces projecting upwardly in vertical planes from the hypotenusesides of the fins respectively. These intermediate stern portions also extend rearwardly and inwardly from the sides of the boat in converging fashion. A mounting bracket for the bottom of the rudder pin projects rearwardly from between the fins to a point generally below the rearmost surface of the upper stern portion.

Cross-references to related applications The present application is a continuation-in-part of my co-pending application Ser. No. 542,972, filed Apr. 15, 1966, now U.S. Patent No. 3,326,379. This co-pending application Ser. No. 542,972 is a continuation of my application Ser. No. 368,137, filed on May 18, 1964 and now abandoned.

Summary of invention and objects The present invention generally relates to a watercraft having a scoop for debris removal such as disclosed in my earlier filed applications identified above. More particularly the present invention relates to a novel stern construction particularly suitable in such a watercraft for purposes of stabilization.

One of the objects of the present invention is to provide a watercraft of the type mentioned having a highly stabilized construction. Included herein is the provision of such a watercraft having a new and improved stern construction including stabilizing fins.

It is a further object of the present invention to provide such a watercraft for cleansing navigational waters which has a superior load carrying capacity than prior crafts of the same size.

It is also an object of the present invention to provide such a watercraft having good maneuverability.

The invention will be further described, by way of example, with reference to the accompanying drawings in which:

FIG. 1 shows an elevation of a cleansing device accord ing to the invention, which serves to show the general layout but does not show the hydraulic circuits,

3,434,444 Patented Mar. 25, 1969 ice FIG. 2 is a diagrammatic detail of the stern of the cleansing device of FIG. 1,

FIG. 3 shows, diagrammatically, the hydraulic system of a cleansing device according to the invention, superimposed on a plan of the cleansing device of FIG. 1, and

FIG. 4 shows the lifting gear of a craft according to the present invention.

Referring to FIG. 1 a cleansing device according to the present invention comprises a craft having a hull 2 with novel stabilising fins 3 at its stern. The craft has a diesel motor 4 and a gearbox 6 through which the motor 4 drives a propeller shaft 8 and hence a propeller 10. The craft is steered by a rudder 12 which is actuated by hydraulic rams 14.

A lifting device is positioned at the front of the craft according to the present invention. Such a device has a framework 16 mounted on the hull 2, a boom 18 pivoting on pins 20, from the position in which it is shown, by the extension of the rams 22. A wire-mesh scoop 24 is mounted on the boom 18 and is caused to pivot about pins 26 by the extension of rams 28. The details of the operation of the lifting device and the structure thereof is dealt with below.

The hydraulic system to operate the lifting device is operated by a power take-off from the motor 4. Such a take-off utilises a shaft 30 which drives a pump 32. The hydraulic fluid is driven through a filter 34 to a reservoir 36 (see FIG. 3)this reservoir 36- also serves as a part of the framework Iii-and thence round the circuit of the lifting device.

A belt 38 on a pulley 40 on the shaft 30 is used to drive a pump 42 via a pulley 44. The pump 42 drives hydraulic fluid through a combined filter and reservoir 46 and thence into the pipes of the rudder control hydraulic system.

The hull 2 has an overall length L and a beam Bsee FIG. 3.

In accordance with the present invention a pair of stabilizing fins 3 are provided at the stern of the craft. In the preferred embodiment shown in the drawings, these fins extend rearwardly from the bottom of the craft in a horizontal plane and have an identical shape which is a right-triangle. The fin sides, designated X in the drawings, extend rearwardly from the opposite sides of the craft While the fin sides which are designated Y in the drawings, extend at right angles to sides X and transversely of the craft. Fins 3 are spaced below the upper stern portion 2a of the craft by means of an intermediate stern portion 2b including planar surface portions of the hull projecting upwardly from the hypotenuse-sides Z of the fins and extending inwardly and rearwardly from the opposite sides of the craft in converging fashion. At their rearmost ends, intermediate stern portions 2b are interconnected by a vertical surface 2c projecting upwardly from the plane of the fins to the lower surface of upper stern portion 2a.

Projecting rearwardly from stabilizing fins 3 at the location of the surface 20 is a bracket 5 having an aperture in its extremity for receiving the rudder pin. The rearmost sides Y of the fins are spaced inwardly or forwardly from the rear of the craft by a distance A and thus bracket 5 is accordingly dimensioned.

Pins 3 may be formed in any suitable manner, however, in one preferred construction they have a hollow construction filled with cement or other suitable substance which will give additional weight to the lower stern.

As illustrated in the table below the size of the fins and their distance A from the upper stern portion 2a may vary depending upon the hull length L and the beam dimension B. However, it should be understood that the linear proportions of the hull length L, beam -B and distance Am the dimensions of the fins sides X and Y will remain generally the same. Moreover, it has been found that these proportions are very significant in the achievement of improved stabilization in accordance with the present invention.

Length of Beam (B) Satelitng load Fins measure DistauceA Referring to FIG. 3 the hydraulic system of the device according to the present invention may be dealt with in two parts. First the hydraulic fluid supply to the lifting device and, secondly, the hydraulic fluid supply to the rudder. Dealing with the lifting device supply this, again, may conveniently be described in two parts. First, the supply to the boom operating rams 22 and, secondly, the supply to the scoop-tipping rams 28. The supply to, and from, the rams 22 is in the following manner.

Hydraulic fluid is pumped from the pump 32 along a conduit 48 to the filter 34, along a conduit 50 to the reservoir 36, into a control panel tank 52-, out of the tank 52 along a conduit 54 to the bottom of the rams 22. A branch conduit 56 takes the fluid to the left hand ram 22. The fluid is returned from the rams 22 to the reservoir 52 along conduits 58 and 60. Hydraulic fluid is pumped to the rams 28 by similar means, the hydraulic fluid going to the rams 28 from the reservoir 52 along conduits 62 and 64 and being returned to the reservoir 62 along conduits 66 and 68.

To complete the above circuits, the hydraulic fluid is returned from the reservoir 52 to the pump 32 via a conduit 70.

Turning to the control of the rudder 12, pump 42 drives the fluid along a conduit 72 to the combined filter and reservoir 46, along a conduit 74 to a control panel tank 76 thence to the rudder operating rams 14 via conduits 78 and 80. A by-pass 75 is provided on tank 76. The circuit is completed by a conduit 82 which returns the fiuid to the pump 42 from the tank 76.

FIG. 4 gives an accurate picture of the layout of the conduits shown diagrammatically in FIG. 3 and further shows levers 84 and 86 which control valves (not shown) in the tank 52 and hence the supply of fluid to and from rams 22 and 28, lever 84 controlling valves which, in turn, control the flow to and from rams 28 and lever 86 controlling valves which, in turn, control the flow to and from rams 22. A cabin 88 is also shown.

The rudder controls, the lifting device controls and the motor controls, for example the starter switch and the throttle, are preferably located in the cabin 88, which provides weather protection for the operator.

The cleaning device illustrated in the above FIGS. 1 to 4 operates in the following way. The engine 4- is started, the gear is engaged and the vessel moved into the clock by the use of a throttle (not shown) and the rudder 12. The lever to control the rudder is not shown, being conventional. Conveniently the rams 22 are partially extended so that the scoop 24 is out of the water. As the craft approaches any flotsam the gear is shifted into neutral, so that propeller ceases to rotate. This is done in such a way that the craft is a little distance away from the flotsam, sufficient distance, in fact, to permit the wiremesh scoop 24 to enter the water without striking the flotsam. The scoop 24 is then lowered into the water by retraction of the rams 22. The craft is then put into gear and moved forward until the scope 24 is beneath the flotsam. The craft is then shifted out of gear, the rams 22 are extended and the flotsam lifted from the water in the scoop 24. Forward gear is then engaged and the craft is moved to a barge or like vessel to be used for temporary storage of the flotsam. There the rams 22 are extended,

if necessary, to a sufiicient extent to allow the scoop to be positioned over the barge or like vessel. Then, by operation of the rams 28 the scoop is pivoted and the flotsam ejected into the barge or like vessel. After ejection the scoop is returned to its rest position (as shown in FIG. 3) and the rams 22 may be retracted as necessary. The craft is then manoeuvered into a position to pick up further flotsam. Preferably, the flotsam is loaded into one of a series of ducks that are towed by the craft according to the invention.

Certain variations in the device shown in FIGS. 1 to 4 are possible. The diesel motor 4- may be replaced by an electric motor or by a petrol motor and the propeller 10 may be replaced by the use of jets of water pumped out by a motor. Further the motor 4, gearbox 6, shaft 8 and propeller 10 may be replaced by a jet motor. The hull 2 of the craft is of welded steel structure but may be of reinforced plastic.

I claim:

1. In a watercraft having a scoop situated beyond the bow of the craft, and support means on the hull of the craft for raising and lowering the scoop; an improved stern construction including an upper stern portion and a pair of horizontally positioned stabilizing fins projecting rearwardly from the bottom of the craft in underlying and spaced relationship with respect to the upper stern portion, said fins having a suflicient area and projecting rearwardly and transversely of the craft sufficient distances in relation to the size of the craft to provide stabilization of the craft when moving through water.

2. In a watercraft as defined in claim 1 wherein said fins have first side portions extending rearwardly beyond the opposite sides of the craft and second side portions extending transversely with respect to the first side portions and with respect to the longitudinal center line of the craft.

3. In a watercraft as defined in claim 2 wherein the said second side portions of the fins extend generally at right angles with respect to said first side portions of the fins.

4. In a watercraft as defined in claim 3 wherein said fins each have an identical shape of a right triangle further including third side portions forming the hypotenuse of the right-triangle.

5. In a watercraft as defined in claim 4 further including an intermediate stern portion including vertical surfaces projecting upwardly from said third hypotenuse sides of the fins to said upper stern portion.

6. In a watercraft as defined in claim 5 wherein said intermediate stern portions also extend rearwardly from the opposite sides of the boat and converge inwardly toward each other at the rear end of the craft.

7. In a watercraft as defined in claim 4 wherein the beam dimension of the craft is between 3 and 4 times the length of said first sides of the fins, and between 2 and 3 times the length of said second sides of the fins and wherein the overall hull length of the craft is between 8 and 10 times the length of said first sides of the fins and between 4 and 6 times the length of said second sides of the fins.

8. The watercraft as defined in claim 1 wherein said fins have a hollow construction and there is provided a cement-like filler in the hollow portions of the fins.

9. In a watercraft having a scoop situated beyond the bow of the craft, and support means on the hull of the craft for raising and lowering the scoop; an improved stern construction including an upper stern portion and a pair of horizontally positioned stabilizing fins projecting rearwardly from the bottom of the craft in underlying and spaced relationship with respect to the upper stern portion, said fins having first side portions extending rearwardly beyond the opposite sides of the craft and second side portions extending transversely with respect to the first side portions and with respect to the longitudinal center line of the craft, said second side portions of the fins extending generally at right angles with respect to said first side portions of the fins, said fins each having an identical shape of a right triangle further including third side portions forming the hypotenuse of the right triangle, an intermediate stern portion including vertical surfaces projecting upwardly from said third hypotenuse sides of the fins to said upper stern portion, said craft having a generally rectangular external shape, the upper stern portion having a rear face of rectangular shape, and the surfaces of said intermediate stern portion having a rectangular shape.

10. In a watercraft having a scoop situated beyond its bow and support means on its hull for raising and lowering the scoop; an improved stern construction including fin means projecting rearwardly from the bottom of the craft in a generally horizontal plane, said fin means having a sufiicient area and projecting rearwardly and transversely with respect to the craft sufiicient distances to provide stabilization of the craft when moving through water.

11. In a watercraft as defined in claim wherein the stern further includes an upper portion and the fin means are spaced below and forwardly of said upper portion.

12. In a watercraft as defined in claim 11 wherein said second side portions of said fin means are positioned forwardly of the plane of said upper stern portion by a distance equal to one third to one length of said second side portions and one to two lengths of said first side portions,

said distance being measured along the longitudinal center line of the craft.

13. In a watercraft as defined in claim 11 :wherein the stern further includes an intermediate portion projecting upwardly from the fin means to said upper portion.

14. In a watercraft as defined in claim 13 wherein said intermediate portion includes two surfaces extending from the sides of the craft rearwardly in converging relationship.

15. The watercraft defined in claim 1 further including a propeller for propelling the craft, said propeller being situated rearwardly of the craft beyond said stabilizing fins.

16. The watercraft defined in claim 10 further including a propeller means for propelling the craft, said propeller means being situated rearwardly of the craft beyond said fin means.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,130,235 3/1915 Zduniewicz 114-126 2,784,691 3/ 1957 MacMillan 11457 XR 3,326,379 6/1967 Caddick 210242 ANDREW H. FARRELL, Primary Examiner.

US. Cl. X.R. 114126 

